Sewing machine
Toys2 - 9/5/20 at 07:33 AM
Hi all, my wife is thinking about taking up sewing. Of course I saw this as an opportunity to get some trim bits made!
Does anyone have any suggestions for a machine that would work with vinyl, maybe leather? Ideally around £250 ish
Thanks
ianhurley20 - 9/5/20 at 08:00 AM
We have a Toyota Super Jeans, apparently designed to sew several layers of denim at the same time. Several videos of it doing so from Toyota and
others on You tube. I reupholstered my 3 berth yacht with canvas and waterproof vinyl and aslo did a crash pad for IVA on my steering wheel in leather
with no problems. Also got a self threading function (I couldn't use it without). And - it costs a lot less than your budget!
[Edited on 9/5/20 by ianhurley20]
christim - 9/5/20 at 08:23 AM
This guy on YouTube has loads of vids about making car upholstery if it's of any interest:
https://www.youtube.com/user/Cechaflo
rf900rush - 9/5/20 at 09:42 AM
I re-upholstered a couple of speed boat interiors now.
I bought a knackered brother industrial machine blindly before youtube had been invented.
Just as a note, I tried my wife's cheapy domestic machine, no chance, an so light weight the vinyl being stitched weighed more than the
machine.
Must admit the Toyota machine mention looks like something worth trying.
learnt a little since having watched many hours for videos.
On thing I would like to do, is try a machine designed with leather/Vinyl in mind.
Even with the wrong, but heavy duty machine the last jot came out half decent.
interior
Must admit the Toyota machine mention looks like something worth trying.
Would a local sewing machine shops give demos on the materials required.
My conclusion, lots of research and then practice practice .....
roadrunner - 9/5/20 at 10:34 AM
Toyota's are supposed to be good machines.
rusty nuts - 9/5/20 at 06:10 PM
A little tip when sewing vinyl place a sheet of grease proof paper over the item to be sewn , my mum used to sew vinyl using a domestic Singer sewing
machine, it would struggle without the GP paper
SJ - 9/5/20 at 08:18 PM
This is mine. Sewed my roof with it.
cliftyhanger - 9/5/20 at 09:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SJ
This is mine. Sewed my roof with it.
Shuttle or bobbin?
(my dad used to sell them in his dark and murky past!) Wife inherited one, the slower shuttle variety. Good bit of kit and there are still loads in
service, the motorised ones will last forever.
SJ - 9/5/20 at 09:38 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SJ
This is mine. Sewed my roof with it.

Shuttle or bobbin?
(my dad used to sell them in his dark and murky past!) Wife inherited one, the slower shuttle variety. Good bit of kit and there are still loads in
service, the motorised ones will last forever
No idea, how do I tell? It works great though!
Mine isn't motorised.
rusty nuts - 10/5/20 at 07:25 AM
I should imagine it’s a bobbin , It looks like it’s the type you have to load a bobbin with thread and insert it into its location under the sliding
plate to the LH side of the machine? Mind you, I’m no domestic goddess!
SJ - 10/5/20 at 07:28 AM
quote:
I should imagine it’s a bobbin , It looks like it’s the type you have to load a bobbin with thread and insert it into its location under the sliding
plate to the LH side of the machine? Mind you, I’m no domestic goddess!
Yes, that's right. I don't use it very often so have to remember how to do it each time 😀
Schrodinger - 10/5/20 at 07:37 AM
I used to have one just like that, it is a bobbin machine as you can see the bobbin winder on the right hand side.
Toys2 - 10/5/20 at 10:40 AM
Thank you for all of your replies. I knew that you’d come good
We’ve decided that she’ll start with a good general purpose machine, then when the time comes to do my interior (Lotus 23b replica) if it means buying
a heavy duty machine, it will still be a good cost saving over paying for a trimmer
big_wasa - 14/5/20 at 08:08 PM
I have my late mums Toyota Super jeans to find a new home for.
